The esteemed Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit and Awards (ASEB) announces that its 2nd annual summit is set to unfold from December 6-8, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Given the rising enthusiasm and momentum in the African entrepreneurial community, the nomination deadline has been graciously extended to September 15, 2023. This extension serves as a unique chance for more ecosystem architects to either nominate themselves or their peers, celebrating the indelible marks they leave on Africa’s dynamic entrepreneurial terrain. Notably, participants can be nominated across multiple categories with a staggering 30 categories available.

Initiated in 2021 by visionary McKevin Ayaba, the CEO of Setup A Startup, the inaugural ASEB summit held in Johannesburg last year assembled over 150 attendees from 36 diverse African nations. The event culminated in the presentation of 88 awards spread across 22 categories, all in a bid to honour the often-under-celebrated champions of the ecosystem – the builders.

“To truly harness Africa’s untapped potential, we must recognize and celebrate the architects of our ecosystem – the unsung heroes, the builders. As we extend our hand for nominations, it is a testament to our belief that every contribution, no matter how small, is a significant stride towards Africa’s entrepreneurial renaissance. In unity and collaboration, we’ll write Africa’s next great chapter in innovation and economic growth.” – McKevin Ayaba, Founder of ASEB & CEO of Setup A Startup.

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At the core of ASEB’s mission lies the conviction that constructing a resilient and thriving startup ecosystem is the result of a unified endeavour. This conviction aligns seamlessly with the theme of ASEB 2023: 

“DISCOVER; Advancing Ecosystem Building: A New Approach to Africa’s Economic Development”.

Reinforcing the spirit of collaboration, the upcoming ASEB 2023 summit proudly announces its co-hosting partnership with The Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK). The event’s expansive vision is further enriched with the backing of esteemed entities such as HYBR Group, Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology and Agriculture, and AfriEDX of Mauritius.

“As the African continent teeters on the brink of a significant digital shift, the urgency for a robust and integrated Startup ecosystem has never been more palpable. As a national network of Entrepreneur Support Organizations that work with Startups and SMEs build scalable and impactful businesses, ASSEK is glad to be the country partner for this monumental event. The ASEB Summit will be a critical event that will be converging African innovation ecosystems into one critical event to strengthen and forge new existing collaborations and partnerships, create seamless pathways for knowledge and trade exchange and most importantly giving a platform to celebrate ecosystem builders who tirelessly work to build sustainable business for socio-economic impact. Truly, we shall be fulfilling it mantra – “Building A Vibrant Startup Ecosystem, one step at a time, together”. – Mercy Kimalat, CEO – Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK)

Beyond enriching discussions, workshops, and solution-driven sessions for startups, ASEB accentuates awards that recognize the relentless efforts of ecosystem builders who mentor, network, and empower startups with necessary resources and support.

With forecasts predicting the digital economy contributing an astounding $300 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2025, the indispensable role of ecosystem builders becomes paramount. ASEB not only highlights this pivotal role but also advocates for the collective efforts crucial to actualizing Africa’s immense startup promise.

The Summit is designed around seven core pillars, encapsulating trust, collaboration, shared objectives, and a unified language for ecosystem cultivation. The goal is to uplift both the national and global startup landscapes through synergized local and overarching strategies.

For a deeper dive into the ASEB Summit, its vision, or to forward your nomination, kindly navigate to www.asebsummit.com.